Isaac Hayes was an influential American musician and actor known for his deep voice and unique musical style.
Hayes began singing at his local church at the age of five and was a self-taught musician on multiple instruments.
He was a key figure at Stax Records, writing hits for artists like Sam & Dave and producing his own acclaimed albums.
Biography
Early Life
Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. was born on August 20, 1942, in Covington, Tennessee. He was the second child of Eula and Isaac Hayes Sr. After the early death of his mother and the abandonment by his father, Hayes was raised by his maternal grandparents. Growing up in a sharecropper family, he began singing in church at the age of five and taught himself to play several instruments, including the piano and organ. Despite dropping out of high school, he later earned his diploma at 21, turning down music scholarships to support his family by working in a meat-packing plant while performing in nightclubs.
Career
Hayes began his music career in the early 1960s as a session musician for Stax Records, where he collaborated with David Porter to write numerous hits, including "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Comin'" for Sam & Dave. His debut album, "Presenting Isaac Hayes," was released in 1968, but it was his second album, "Hot Buttered Soul," that catapulted him to fame, showcasing his unique style and lengthy reinterpretations of popular songs. Hayes became a prominent figure in the Southern soul music scene and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, further solidifying his legacy as a musical innovator.
Personal Life and Legacy
Hayes had a complex personal life, with four marriages and a total of 11 children. He was also known for his involvement in Scientology, which he began exploring in the early 1990s. His health declined in the mid-2000s, and he passed away on August 10, 2008, just days before his 66th birthday. In recognition of his contributions to music and culture, a section of Interstate 40 in Tennessee was named the "Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway" in 2010, ensuring that his legacy would continue to be celebrated in his home state.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Raw & Refined1995
- 1.Birth of Shaft3:34
- 2.Urban Nights4:34
- 3.Funkalicious5:40
- 4.Tahoe Spring4:29
- 5.The Night Before4:41
- 6.Memphis Trax3:38
- 7.Soul Fiddle6:38
- 8.Funky Junky7:05
- 9.You Make Me Live3:48
- 10.Making Love at the Ocean5:46
- 11.Southern Breeze5:59
- 12.Didn't Know Love Was So Good3:56
- 13.The 4056:43
Branded1995
- 1.Ike's Plea1:19
- 2.Life's Mood2:53
- 3.Fragile6:21
- 4.Life's Mood II3:21
- 5.Summer in the City6:55
- 6.Let Me Love You4:42
- 7.I'll Do Anything (To Turn You On)7:46
- 8.Thanks to the Fool7:41
- 9.Branded7:02
- 10.Soulsville4:10
- 11.Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic12:01
Love Attack1988
- 1.Love Attack5:35
- 2.Let Me Be Your Everything6:42
- 3.Showdown6:25
- 4.Eye of the Storm4:25
- 5.Accused Rap4:46
- 6.I Stand Accused ’885:39
- 7.She’s Got a Way4:29
- 8.Foreplay Rap1:59
- 9.Love Won’t Let Me Wait5:41
- 10.Curious6:10
- 11.Showdown (7″ version)4:20
- 12.Showdown (12″ radio mix with beep)5:51
- 13.Showdown (12″ extended without beep)7:34
- 14.Showdown (instrumental 12″ dub)6:05
U-Turn1986
- 1.If You Want My Lovin', Do Me Right4:32
- 2.Flash Backs4:27
- 3.You Turn Me On4:45
- 4.Ike's Rap VIII3:19
- 5.Hey Girl5:46
- 6.Doesn't Rain in London5:30
- 7.Can't Take My Eyes Off You6:18
- 8.Thing for You5:29
- 9.Thank God for Love4:05
Lifetime Thing1981
- 1.I'm Gonna Make You Love Me7:28
- 2.Three Times A Lady8:02
- 3.Fugitive4:28
- 4.Lifetime Thing5:33
- 5.Summer5:34
- 6.I'm So Proud5:38
And Once Again1980
- 1.It's All In The Game5:53
- 2.Ike's Rap VII / This Time I'll Be Sweeter13:34
- 3.I Ain't Never7:23
- 4.Wherever You Are5:40
- 5.Love Has Been Good To Us6:59
Royal Rappin’s1979
- 1.Sweet Music, Soft Lights, and You4:24
- 2.Feels Like the First Time4:03
- 3.You Never Cross My Mind3:55
- 4.Love Changes3:52
- 5.I Changed My Mind4:08
- 6.Do You Wanna Make Love4:24
- 7.If I Had My Way6:03
- 8.If You Had Your Way3:15
- 9.You Needed Me4:45
Don’t Let Go1979
- 1.Don't Let Go7:18
- 2.What Does It Take6:00
- 3.A Few More Kisses to Go6:08
- 4.Fever8:19
- 5.Someone Who Will Take the Place of You10:26
For the Sake of Love1978
- 1.Just the Way You Are9:17
- 2.Believe in Me5:20
- 3.If We Ever Needed Peace5:17
- 4.Shaft II9:51
- 5.Zeke the Freak4:31
- 6.Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight6:50
Hotbed1978
- 1.Use Me5:55
- 2.I'm Gonna Have to Tell Her4:13
- 3.The Ten Commandments of Love6:02
- 4.Feel Like Makin' Love13:37
- 5.Hobosac and Me4:37
New Horizon1977
- 1.Stranger in Paradise10:07
- 2.Moonlight Lovin' (Mènage a Trois)10:02
- 3.Don't Take Your Love Away7:33
- 4.Out of the Ghetto5:44
- 5.It's Heaven to Me4:19
A Man and a Woman1976
Tracklist not collected yet.
Groove-A-Thon1976
- 1.Groove-A-Thon9:48
- 2.Your Loving Is Much Too Strong5:39
- 3.Rock Me Easy Baby8:17
- 4.We’ve Got a Whole Lot of Love5:42
- 5.Wish You Were Here (You Ought to Be Here)5:53
- 6.Make a Little Love to Me6:24
Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak)1976
Tracklist not collected yet.
Chocolate Chip1975
Tracklist not collected yet.
Disco Connection1975
Tracklist not collected yet.
Use Me1975
Tracklist not collected yet.
Joy1973
Tracklist not collected yet.
Portrait of Isaac Hayes1973
Tracklist not collected yet.
Black Moses1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
This Is Isaac Hayes1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
…To Be Continued1970
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Isaac Hayes Movement1970
Tracklist not collected yet.
Hot Buttered Soul1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
Presenting Isaac Hayes1968
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Stax Records
- Record label
- ABC Records
- Record label
- Columbia Records
Achievements
- Award
- IAS Freedom Medal
- Award
- Academy Award for Best Original Song
- Award
- Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Groups
- Delaney & Bonniecurrent
- Hayes & Portercurrent
- Isaac Hayes Bandoriginalcurrent
- Isaac Hayes Movementcurrent
- The Baracudascurrent
- The Louisiana Gator Boyscurrent
- The Mar‐Keyscurrent
- The Stax Staffcurrent
- The Teen Town Singerscurrent
- South Park1997–2006
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Hayes, Isaac Hayes aka Chef, Isaac Hayes as 'Chef', Isaac Hays, Isaac Lee Hayes, Isaac Lee Hayes Jr.
Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. was an American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor. He was one of the creative forces behind the Southern soul music label Stax Records in the 1960s, serving as an in-house songwriter with his partner David Porter, as well as a session musician and record producer. Hayes and Porter were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 in recognition of writing scores of songs for themselves, the duo Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, and others. In 2002, Hayes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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